Packaging machine



March 17, 1931.

C. A. MATSON y PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1929 l0 Sheets-Sheet l Z'wvewior March 17, 1931. Q A MATSON 1,797,173

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 12. 1929 10 Sheets-eet i? 4484' 46B J NN 92,. f M4 0 Swvww Q 's A 57 i 47,2 g4 Flg.

566,?,v E 4,80 V

` I n 0 Z821 Q 7 OZQB March 17, 1931. C, A, MATSQN 1,797,173

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July l2, 1929 l0 Sheets-Shet 3 ,MAQ @zam March 17, 1931. c, A, MATSQN- 1,797,173

PACKAGING 11116111111:

Filed July 12. 1929 1Q Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor March 17, 1931.

C. A. MATSON PACKAGING-MACHINE Filed July l2, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 8 w 0 M m wwf 2 4? 2 .Wwf z a Mm 3 25 5 March 17,' 1931. A, MA1-50N 1,797,173

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed J 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 March 17, 1931. c. A. MATsoN PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 12.' 1929 lO Slhe'ets-Sheet 8 Figfl.

C zzuwcarzfai* M64 m c Much 17, 1931. A MATSQN I 1,797,173

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 12. 1929 Mmh 17, 1931. ,A MAT5N '1,797,173'

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 12. `1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 mgm "31 Figo Patented Mar. 17, 1931 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE lCARL A. MATSoN, oF DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS, AsSIeNoR '.ro SHOE LACE COMPANY,

LTD., 01|? PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND ArAcxAsxrrs mAcHiNE a Appiieamn filed July 12,

chines and is illustrated herein as embodied in-a machine of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial-No. 72,474, iiled 5 on December-'1, 1925,' for winding pairs of laces into bundles and applying an adhesive band about them.

As in the machine disclosed in the abovementioned application the .illustrated malo chine is provided with a bundling mechanism comprising a plurality of reels rotatable about their own axes in order that laces fed thereto may be Wound into bundles thereon and rotatable intermittently .about a common axis in order that` the reels may be succes# sively brought into a position in which wrappers may be folded into bands about the bundles. The reels in the machine' disclosed in the above-mentioned copending application,

and also in that disclosed in the present application, are providedwith an adjustment whereby the outer ends of the bundled laces at the completion of their winding lie within the extremes of the bundle for the sake of 95 neatness of its appearance.' In order that the laces shall be wound on the reels tightly in al regular manner, means is provided for guidmg and tensionmg the laces as they are wound on the reels, which means 1s constructed and arranged to be moved into the path of rota.

tion of the reels during'the last half-revolution of their rotation in order thatthe outerV ends of the laces inthe bundle, which lie within the extremes thereof at the completion of the winding, will be supported during the banding operation.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved bundling mechanism of the kind described above, in conjunction with a mechanism for applying bands about bundles formed by the bundlingmechanism. The invention, in this aspect, comprises the provision of improvedmeans for guiding and tensioning the laces as they are wound on the reels. In accordance with this aspect of the invention the illustrated guiding and tensioning means is constructedfand arranged to hold the outer ends of the bundled laces against the bundle whenits winding is completed, thereby to insure compactness of the 1929. serial No. 377,794.

on the reels, means is provided for combing the laces beingv wound on a reel. In the illustrated construction the combing means operates on the laces before they pass to the guidlng andtensioning means to assist the latter in freeing thev laces of twists either in the individual laces or of one about another. To this endthe illustrated means comprises an abutment and .a cooperating yieldable flap, between which the laces are pulled, disposed in proximity to the path of the guiding and tensioning means and between the positions in which the laces are fed to the reels and the banding position thereof. a The completely formed bundles are encircled. by bands by aA banding device which is arranged to be oscillatedintermittently between a magazine, from which it removes wrappers one by one, and the osition in which the banding device applies t e wrapper on that reel which has been rotated into the banding position, as above described. Mechanism is also provided for imparting a translatory movement tothe banding device at each end of its oscillatory movement, at one end outwardly from the axis of its oscillation so that vit will clear 'the bundle in banding position when swung into juxtaposition last removed from the magazine to a 'bundle therewith, and at the other end inwardlyto- Ward the laxis of its oscillation to Vbring it into cooperative relation with the-bundle in banding position, facilitating the folding of the wrapper into a band about said bundle.

It is desirable that the'bundle in banding position shall be substantially0 in alinement with the banding device during its reciprocatory movement and when the bundle is being encircled by a band. Accordingly, a feay ture of the invention comprises means coo erating with the bundling reels for positive y stopping their rotation in a predetermined position as they arrive at the banding position. Preferably the means for positively stopping the rotation of the reels as they come tothe banding position is normally outside of the path of rotation of the reels but is brought within the path of rotation of the reels during the last half-revolution of the winding of the bundles on the reels.. In the illustrated construction this means comprises an abutment fixed to a support for the guiding and tensioning means which, when the support is moved to its inner position during the last half-revolution of the reels, cooperates with a p art'of the reels positively to stoptheir rotatlon.

In the illustrated machine thereelsare rotatably mounted in radially disposed arms of a spider which is also rotatable about a common perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the reels. -The reels are brought successively into banding position by an intermittent rotation of the spider. In view ofthe foregoing,l it is apparent that the alinement of the bundles on the reels in banding position with the banding device is also dependent upon-the accurate positioning of the spider. In view of the above, it is another object of the invention to provide improved means for intermittently locking the spider from rota-l tion in either direction as the reels .carrying Athe bundles are successively brought into banding position. To this end the illustrated machine is provided with a'plate in juxtaposition to said spider and normally in abutting relation withthe ends of the sup-.

ports for the guiding and tensioning means above referred to, this plate being constructed and arranged to cooperate with adjacent supports which are ,carried by the spider to prevent the rotation of the spider in either direction when a bundle' is in banding position.

In the illustratedlmachine the reciprocatary' motion of the banding device which results inthe application of a band to abundle isin a direction substantially tangent to the path of rotation of the bundle to be banded as it arrives at the banding position,- and hence the direction of the reciprocatory motion of the banding device is laterally of the reel which supports the bundle. It is evident that the strands of the bundle which are uppermost with respect to the banding device will be supported by the reel against the pressure of the banding device as a wrapper is forced against and folded about the bundle; but the lower strands of the bundle, being beneath their'supporting elements with respect to the banding device, are unsupported except by their own -tension about the reel. Ac-

`cordinglyfanother feature of the invention comprises improved meansfor supporting the bundled laces during thebanding thereof. To this end /means is provided, independent of the reels, for supporting that bundle in banding position at its lowermost side during the banding operation. The illustrated support is constructed and arranged resiliently toresist the pressure of the bundle thereagainst during'the banding operation adjacent to and at'either side 0I' the banding device.

The continuity of operation of machines in which labels or wrappers are removed one by one from a pile or stack is sometimes interrupted by faulty operation of the machine in this respect since two or more labels may adhere together, either temporarily, on account of atmspheric pressure holding them together, or more permanently on account of theadhesive matter thereon becoming partially fused. Wrappers are supplied to the banding device of. the illustrated machine by bringingI the banding device and the delivery end of the magazine into juxtaposition, it being understood that means ,is also provided for holding the wrappers in the magazine at the delivery end thereof. As the banding device is thus brought into contact With the endmost wrapperin the magazine, other mechanism becomes operative to produce a partial vacuum at thepart of the banding device in abutting relation with the endmost wrapper in the magazine, thereby causing atmospheric pressure to retain the wrapper on the banding device when the banding device and magazine are brought out of juxtaposition.

Another important feature of the invention comprises improved mechanism for thus delivering wrappers one by one to the banding mechanism. It has been found that a relatively abrupt retraction of the banding device from the pile of wrappers is conducive `to effective separationof wrappers singly from the pile. In accordance with this feature of the invention, means is provided for -zine having a pulley arrangement connected with the wrapper support of the magazine. The wrapper support is operated in timed relation with the movement of the magazine and in the illustrated machine causes a dropping of the labels with respect to the magazine equal to the absolute velocityv of the retraction of the magazine from the bandingdevice lHence, the absolute velocity with which the wrappers are dropped away from the banding device is twice that of the magazine.

The speed with which a wrapper may be removed froma pile is dependent, tosome extent,`upon the rapidity with which air may and in accordance w1th another feature of the invention, the illustrated machine is provided with means for creating an air-blast edgewise of the wrappers at the delivery end of the magazine to assist in separating the endmost wrapper from the pile.

Still another object of the invention is toprovide an improved means for automatically collecting the completely banded bundles which usually, but not necessarily, contain a pair of laces. As illustrated, this means comprises a trough disposed transversely of the direction of motion of the banding device between the bundling mechanism and the magazine, the bandin device being lconstructed and arrangegd to discharge the banded bundles into the trough as it passes thereover. `Upon being dropped into the 1 trough a banded bundle is then carried to a collecting table adjacent to one end of the trough by means of an intermittently oper- Iated chain having cleats which extend into engaging one en d o f the banded bundles.- In orde-1' to remove from the trough. the banded 'bundle last carried to the end of the trough adjacent to the collecting table, means is provided, intermittently operable in alternation with the operation ofthe chain, for

' pushing the banded bundle in the trough at the head of the collecting table ofi' the chain and onto the table. As illustrated, this means vcomprises a push. rod operated by a plunger carried bythe oscillating arm .which supports the banding device.

The laces to be packaged are brought to the illustrated machine in hanks containing a gross and each hank is deposited in a flattened heap on a table fixed to the rear art of the machine, that being a location rom which the operator may transfer laces to the bundling means with ease. However, owing to the tendency-of adjacent laces to cling together whether they are intertwined or not, it wouldbe difli'cult for the operator, unassisted to remove from the heap' only the particiilar laces next .to be operated upon in the machine. Accordingly it is another object of the invention to provide means for allowing -the removal of only those laces which are selected by the o er'ator to be tion with the illustrated machine in which the invention is shown as embodied and finally will be defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, i

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the right-hand side of the machine in which the present invention is illustrated as embodied;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the lefthand side of the machine with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line IVe-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation;

Fig. 6 is a.l rear elevation;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation as seen from the right-hand side of the machine, the section being taken through the central portion of the machine;

Figs. 8 'and 9 are side and front elevations, respectively, of a bundle support shown also taken along in side elevation in Fig. 7;

bundling mechanism, the lace guiding and' tensioning means of which is shown in its inner posltion;

lig. 13 is a detailed end view o` a bundling ree v Fig. 14 is a view in perspective of the bundling mechanism;

Fig. 15 illustrates successive stages lin the winding of a pair of laces into a bundle;

Fig. 16 is a rear elevational view of the wrapper magazine, its mounting and operatmg means;

Fig. 17 is a cross-section taken alongthe line'XVII-XVII of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an elevational view'of the magazine and operating-means as seen from the right-hand side of the machine;

Fig. 19 is a View partly in section ofa fragment of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18', the section being taken .along the line XIX- XIX;

Fig. 20 is a. sectional elevation of the wrapper magazine, the section being taken along the line XX-XX of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the wrapper magazine and its mounting on the frame;

Fig. 22 is a view in perspective of the wrapper magazine and its immediate support in disassembled relation;

Figs. 23, 24, 25, 2 6, 27 and 28 are sectional elevations illustrating the banding device and successive stages 'of its operation in fold- 1ing a wrapper into a band about a bundle of aces; l s Fig. 29 is a sectional view of a part ofthe banding device taken along the line XXIX- XXIX in Fig. 28;

Fig. 30 illustrates an adhesive wrapper of the type used in the illustrated machine; and

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary perspective View of afolding jaw-With parts broken away to show the heating unit therein.

The machine in which the invention is illustrated as embodied comprises a mechanism herein termed a bundling mechanism,

the .function of which is to windlaces into bundles of convolute loops; an apparatus' herein termed a banding device for folding wrappers into bands about bundles formed by said bundling `mechanistic; and also a mechanism including a wrapper magazine operating in conjunction with the banding device fo'r supplying wrappers thereto.

The bundling mechanism comprises a plurality of reels which are rotatable about their own axes to wind laces into bundles thereon and which are intermittently rotatable about a common axis in order successively to movev the reels from that position in which the laces are fed thereto, to that in which the bundled laces are banded. lThe above-mentioned rotationl of the reels about their own axes to wind laces into bundles thereon occurs during the bodily rotation of the reels about their common axis so that, simultaneously with the rotation of a reel of the bundling mechanism between the lace receiving and banding position, the laces on that reel are being wound into a bundle.

Laces brought to the machine to be bundled are deposited on a shelf 40 (Fig. 5) extending entirely across the front of the machlne. The laces are laid lengthwise on the shelf 40 in a flattened heap with one end thereof overlying the extreme left-hand end of the shelf 40. The laces on the shelf are held against the brush 42 by means of another brush 44 piv otally mounted in a bracket 46 which is fixed to the extreme left-hand end of the shelf 40. The brush 44 mayv be raised to permit the placing of a new group of laces on the shelfto the reels. s

Grasping the laces, usually in pairs, at both ends after removing them from the heap, the operator inserts the left-hand ends thereof in the left-hand bifurcated pin 52 (Figs. 13 and 14) of the reel in lace receiving position-' that of the uppermost reel illustrated in Fig.

14, slides the end portions of the laces over i the guide 54, between the jaws of a guiding Aarm 72 (Figs. 11, 13 and 14) along which vertically disposed bristles of a brushA 42 at shaft 84.- Depression of the treadle actuates the removal of anyI laces other than those selected to be removed therefrom and to be fed and tensioning device 56 to be described later, into a slot between a fabric ila :58 and a cooperating abutment 60 at one si e of a kerf in a vertically disposed shield 62 yfastened to a table 64 xed to the right-hand side of the 70 machine at the same level as that of the shelf 40. Having done this, the operator with the right hand pulls the laces until the left-hand tips thereof, being stiff become wedged slightly in the V-shaped bifurcation in the pin 52. (Fig. 13) and then lets the right-hand ends-of the-laces drop loosel over the table 64, as indicated in Fig. 14. he feeding of a pairof laces tothe reels is facilitated by a guide 66, the upper surface of the lower end of which is in alinement with the bifurcation inthe left-hand pin 52 of the reel in lace receiving position. A guard 68, together with the guide 66, is operatedby means to be described later so that its lower end overlies the ends of the right-hand pin 52 and one of two pins 70, the position of which determines the size of the bundle into which the laces are wound. The pins 7 0 are supported by a reel they may beadj usted simultaneously longitudinally thereof, in order to accommodate laces of Various lengths, by means ofa right and left-hand threaded rod 74 mounted for rotation in the arm 72. In order that the bifurcation in the left-hand pin 52 of the reel 1n lace receiving position may be readily alined with the guide 66, the pins are mounted at opposite ends of a support 76 which may be adjustably clamped against theV arm 72 by means of screws 78 (Fig. 13) passing through arcuate slots in the support 76 which allow an angular adjustment of the support 76 with respect to the reel ar'm 72.

Having thus prepared the machine for operation by. feeding laces to that reel in lace receiving position, the operator next de resses la treadle 80 (Fig. 10) which is pivota y supportedon one side of the frame 82 on a stub f a mechanism next to be described for rotating the reel to which laces have been fed about its own axis to wind said laces intoa bundle thereon, and simultaneously about another axis to move the reel from its lace receiving position to the banding position-that of theleft-hand reel illustrated in F 10, and that in which a wrapper is folded into a band about the completely bundled laces.

Depression of the treadle 80 (Figs. 6 and 10) will result in the retraction of a rod 86 from .a cam face 88 on one element 90- of a onef'revolution clutch of the type described in my copending application referred to above, allowing said element urged by a spring 92 to slide to the left (Fig. 6) along a shaft 94 to which said clutch element90 is splined and to engage acooperating clutch element 96 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft -94, which shaft is journaled at both ends in 130 the frame 82. Power is supplied tothe clutch element 96 through a. speed reducing gear mechanism 98 driven from a shaft 100 journaled in the frame 82, which shaft by means of a clutch 102 controlled by a hand 'lever 104, may readily be connected with or disconnected from the source of power. A hand wheel 106 is fixed to one end of the shaft 100 to enable the operator to turn the machine over by hand if he so desires. Assuming then, that the clutch 102 is operated to provide a driving connection between the source of power and the shaft 100, for each de ression of the treadle 80 the shaft 94 wi l revolve once, or, if the treadle is held down continuously, the shaft 94 will likewise rotate continuously.

The first result of depressin the treadle, as evidenced by motion of the undling in,- strumentalities, is the lifting of the guide 66 and the guard 68 out of juxtaposition with the corresponding pins on the bundling reel. The guide 66 and guard 68 are mounted on arms 108 and 110 (Figs. 5, 7 and 10) res ectively, which arms are fixed to a rock-s aft 112 rotatably supported b lugs 114 (Fig. extending rearwardly roma casing 116 fixed to the rear of the frame 82. The arms 108 and 11'0 are oscillated4 to move the guide and guard into and out of juxtaposition with the pins as above noted by an arm.118 (Fig. 7) fixed at. one end to the rock-shaft 112 and pivotally connected at its other end with a link 120 which may be adjustably pivoted to one arm of a bell-crank 122 by means of a bolt 124. The bell-crank 122 is pivoted on a rod 126 extending between the sides of the frame 82 and is arranged to be operated by a cam 128 which is xed to a shaft 130 journaled at its opposite ends in the sides of the A frame 82. A gear 132 (Fig. 3) is fixed to one. end of the shaft 130 and is drlven by another gear 134 of the same size which is fixed to a shaft 136 extending between and journaled in the sides of the frame. The gear 134 likewise meshes with another gear 138 which gear is fixed to the shaft 94 to which is imparted a full revolution each time the treadle isdepressed, as above described.

It is` apparent from Fig. 7 that upon a very slight rotation of the shaft 130 1n the directionindicated from its illustrated position the cam 128 will allow a clockwise rotation of the bell-crank 122 caused "by a spring 123 and throu h thelink 120 and lever 118 will oscillate t e guide 66 and guard 68 in a counter-clockwise direction, moving them out of juxtaposition with the pins 52 and 70. Upon further rotation ofthe shaft 130 the bodily rotation of-the reels about their common axis begins, which movement is derived from the following mechanism: A connecting rod 140 (Fig. 3),-which at its lower end is pivoted to a crank 142 fixed to the's'haft 130, operates a bell-crank 144 pivoted at the side e above.

Fig. 1)

of the frame 82 on a stub shaft 146. A pawl v145 carried by one arm of the bell-crank 144 is resiliently held in engagement with a ratchet 148 fixed to a gear 150 both of which are arranged to rotate on the stub shaft 146. crank 142 the ratchet 148 is rotated in a clockwise direction through an angle corre-V disposed arms 160 is ixedconcentrically to .the end of th'e shaft 154 opposite to that to which the pinion 152is fixed. A shaft 162 is rotataby mounted in each of the arms 160 in suitable bearings 164 and each shaft.162 has fixed thereto at its outer end a reel arm 72. The spider 158 is rotatably supported at its right-hand end on a bearing 166 in For each revolution of thealinement with the bearing 156 in the lefthand side of the frame 82. It is now apparent that for each one-sixth revolution of the gear 150, on account of the two to one ratio etween the gears 150 and 152, the spider 158 will be rotated through one-third of a revolution or that angle between successive reels.

of the bundling mechanism. Simultaneous.-

ly with the bodily rotation of the reels about the center of the shaft 158 as an axis, they are also rotated about their own axes, the centers o,f the shafts 162, to wind into bundles the laces. reviously fed thereto as described ejchauism for providing this rotation will now be described. v

` The power for rotatin the reels about their own axes is taken rom the shaft 136 by means of a gear 168 which is i ed to the shaft. An idler 170 rotatably mounted on'the side of the frame 82 and meshing with the gear 168 drives a gear 172, ofthe same size as the gear 168, fixed to a crank shaft 174 also rotatably mounted in the frame-82, A link 176 pivotally connects a crank pin 178 on the shaft 174 with a link 3180 pivoted to the frame on a screw 182. It

1 holes 188 in the link 180 by means of a pin 190thereby to vary the amplitude of oscillation of the bell-crank 184. The bell-crank 184 is rotatably supported on a rod 192 which l is mounted at one end in a bracket 194 bolted to one side of the frame 82, the rod 192 being supported at its other end by the frame 82 itself. A .pawl 196 (Fig. 2) slidably supported at the top of the upper arm of the bell-crank 184 is arranged to engage the'teeth of a ratchet wheel 198 which `is fixed concentrically to a gear 200 rotatably mounted on the shaft 192. The bundlingl reels are driven by the gear 200 through a pinion 202 (Fig. 11) which is pinned to a shaft 204, rotatably supported in suitable bearings 206, retained by the bearing 166. The shaft 204 carries at its other end a beveled gear 208 which drives the shafts 162 through beveled pinions 210 fixed to the inner ends thereoii. In order that the bundling reels shall be rotated in only one direction about their own axes, mechanism is provided for rendering the bell-crank 184 effective to operate the gear 200 only when it rotates in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1. i

This mechanismv comprises a cam 212 (Figs. 11 and 5) keyed to the shaft 130 which cam operates an arm 214, rotatably mounted in the bracket 194, on a rod to which is also ixed an arm 216 having a circular top concentric with the shaft 192. A. spring 217 connecting the central portion of the arm 214 with the bracket 194 resiliently holds the cam roll on the end ofthe arm in contact with the operating fan of the cam. The top of the arm 216 1s arranged to fit within a kerf 218 (Fig. 2) in the outer end of the pawl 196. It is now believed to be apparent that despite the oscillation of the bell-crank 184, the arm 216 when operated outwardly from the side of the frame by the mechanism just described will pull the pawl 196 out of engagement with the teeth of the wheel 198, thereb renderin the bell-crank 184 inoperative urther to riv-e the gear 200 and hence to rotate the reels about their own axes. The cam 212 in the illustrated machine is so constructed that the pawl 196 is allowed to be in driving relation with the Wheel 198 only after the rotation of the spider has commenced and until the rotation of the spider has stopped.

It is apparent from Fig. 14 that the bundling reels in lace receiving and banding position are substantially parallel. It follows then that the bundling reels as they pass from the lace receiving to the banding position must rotate about their own axes and integral number of half revolutions in order that the above condition may hold true. Some laces of various lengths may be wound in bundles of substantial y the same length by controlling the winding thereof as-to the number of loops. This result is obtained in the illustrated machine by var 'ng the number of half-revolutions of the undling reels about their own axes. As'above described, this means comprises the link 186 and the oscillating link 180 which are adjustably pivoted together by means of the pin 190. As

'enabling it to be engaged Within any of the holes in either of the tworows of holes in the link 180. The amplitude of oscillation of the bell-crank 184, and hence the number of half revolutions of the bundling reels, may thus be varied by changing the position of the pin 190. The final adjustment of the bundling reels, for the purpose of so positioning the pins thereof so that when the winding of a bundle is completed the outer ends of the laces therein lie as illustrated in Fig. 12, is

faccomplished'by turning the right and left han-d threaded rod 74 in order to vary the spacing of the pins 70.

The guiding and tensioning devices 56, one of which is associated with each of the bundling reels, are constructed and arranged to assist in the winding of laces into bundles on the reels, and insure that the bundles will be tightly wound in convolute loops. Each of the illustrated guiding and tensionin means is constituted by a clip comprising a )aw 220 (Figs 1, 11, 12 and 14) on which is pivoted a cooperating jaw 222 resiliently urged thereagainst by a spring 224 which surrounds a rod 226 fastened to the jaw 222. The jaws 220 are mounted for limited rotation on rods 228 (Fig. 11) slidably mounted in the arms 160 of the spider 158 parallel to the shafts 154 and 204. In order that the rotation of the bundling reels will not be interfered with by the clips of the guiding and tensioning means, the latter must remain outside of the path of rotation of the reels during the winding operation. This end is insured through the use of a plate 230 which is interposed between the spider 158 and the left-hand side of the frame to which the plate is iixed. As indicated in Figs. 11 and 14, the left-hand ends of the rods 228 are in abutting relation with the plate 230 during the lace Winding operation, thereby prohibiting movement of the guiding and tensioning means to the left while the rods are thus .in contact with the plate. However, as vit is desirable to support the outer ends of the laces of .,the bundle, which are 'Within the extremes thereof when its winding is completed, it is necessary to move the clips of the guiding and tensioning means within the path ofrotation of the reel, which movement occurs during its last half-revolution as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 15. By the time that the bundling ieels will have started their last' half-revolution of the rotation required to wind laces into abundle thereon, the spider will have been rotated. about its major axis to bring a bundling reel substantially into banding position. A portion of the plate 230 op- Eosite the rod 228 associated with the reel in anding position is notched, as at 232 (Fig. 14), to allow movement of the rod 228 to the left as shown in Fig. 12, or to the right as seen.

moval of the endmost wrapper takes place. This means comprises the clutch 328 (Fig. 21) whlch 1s arranged to grip the cord 320 -at the instant the magazine starts to dropv away from the 'banding device. It will be apparent from an inspection of the above figure that upgon a downward movement of the magazine, the clutch being xed and havlng been operated to clamp the cord 320 by virture of the cord being led over the pulley 326 which is xed to the magazine casing, for

each unit of velocity with which the maga- 4 is to be removed from the magazine. The

clutch mechanismcomprises a sleeve 386 g (Fig. 19) which is slidably mounted on a stud 388 fixed to the bracket 304. As illustrated in Figs. 18, 19 and 21, the cord 320 is gripped as above described by being forced against a shoulder 390 on the sleeve 386 by means of a clutch element 392 rotatably and slidably mounted on the stud 388. A collar 394 having a cam finger 396 is fixed on the. end of the stud 388 by means of a nut 398 holding the sleeve 386 andthe clutch element 392 on the studin assembled relation. The clutch finger 396 is engaged within a recess in the clutch element 392 having a cam face 400 which, when the clutch element 392 is rotated in the direction indicated in Fig. 19, rides up the incline of the cam finger 396, thereby moving the clutch element to the right against the pressure of a spring 402 and grippingthe cord against the shoulder 390 on the sleeve 386 which is urged 'toward the clutch element 392 by means of a spring 404 of considerably greater strength than that of the s ring 402.y The mechanism for operating t e clutch element 392.comprises a lever 406 (Fig. 18) fulcrumed at its central portion on therod 126 and engaging at its bifurcated end a pin 408 (Figs. 16, 18 andv 20) fixedin the end of an arm 410 extending from the clutch element 392. The other arm of the lever 406 carries la roll 412 arranged to engage a cam 414 fixed to the shaft 130. The cam roll is normally held in engagementwith the cam 414 by means of a spring 416 connecting the lower'end of the arm 406 with the frame. As above described, the clutch mechanism is arranged to grip the cord 320 just as the` magazine is dropped with respect to the banding device to facilitate the removal of only the en dmost wrapper in the magazine by the suction chuck,1not only by suddenly retracting the labels from the chuck by virtue of o5 their dropping with respect to the magazine,

' the Vcam but also by eliminating the normal frictional resistance to the removal of the endmost` Wrapper owing to its engagement with the ears 336. Simultaneously with the dropping of the magazine, the nozzle directs the air blast as above described edgewise of the upper labels'in the magazine so that the separation of the endmost wrapper from the rest will not be retarded by the time ordinarily required for air naturally to iow therebetween.

After the magazine 276 has begun to drop with respect to the banding device 272, the

banding device is raised with respect to the arm 274 by means comprising a cam 418 (Fi 10) which is xed on a shaft 420 rotata ly ,mounted in the central portion of the arm 274. The cam 418 is driven in the direction indicated in Fig. 10 from the shaft 136 by means of a gear train comprising a spur gear 422 fixed to the shaft 136, whichear drives an idler gear 424 rotatably mounted in the arm 274, which idler gear in turn drives a spur gear 426, which latter` gear is fixed to the shaft 420 carrying the cam 418. The rotary motion of the cam 418 is delivered to the banding device as a reciprocating motion by means of a linkage comprisin a lever 428 fulcrumed at 430 on the arm 2 4 and having on one end a cam roll 432 engaging a track 434 in the cam 418.

The lever 428 is connected at its other end l to one end of another lever 436 fulcrumed on the arm 274 ori a pin 438 by means of an extensible link 440 having a right-'hand thread cut on vone end and a left-hand thread on the other which ends are screwed into yokes 442 and 446 pivoted, respectively,`

to one end of the levers 436 and 428. A bolt 448 connecting the yoke 446 with the lever 428 may be adjustably fixed in any desired position in the elongated slot 450 in the lever 428, thereby to vary the effective throw of 418. The bifurcated end of the lever 436 extends through a hole 452 in the top end of the arm 274 and engages a pin 454 extending across a. recess in a support 456 into .which the bifurcated end of the lever 436 is received and which is mounted for reciprocation on a slide 458 at the upper extreme of the arm 274. AIn order to take up vthe backlash between the cam roll 432 and the track 434, a spring 460 is attached at one end to an" lextension 462 on the end of the lever 428 and is attached at the other end to the rear `portion of the frame.l y

After the magazine, by dropping with respect to the banding device, has left a wrapper thereon and the banding device carrying the wrapper israised on the end of the arm. 274 by the mechanism abovedescribed to the position. in which these parts are illustrated in Fig. 25, the arm 274 is oscillated tothe right as seen in Fig. 10 until the banding I L device and a reel with bundled laces thereon 324 extending longitudinally of one side of the magazine casing 278. The cord 320 is led over a pulley 326 rotatably motnted at the upper part of the ma zine and under a clutch 328 fixed tothe ower portion of the bracket 304the purpose of which will be described later, and thence over a pulley 330 rotatably mounted on the end of an arm 332 which is fixed to the rod 126. To the lower end of the cord 320 is attacheda weight 334 which, being heavier' than the combined weight of the wrapper support 318 and the greatest number of wrappers which can be put in the magazine at a time, will. overcome the weight of the latter and hence hold the uppermost wrapper in the pile at the delivery end of the magazine. Extrusion of the wrappers from the magazine is prevented by means of lips 336 bent inwardly from opposite sides of the ma azine casing 278. As

indicated ,in Fi 18, t e lips 336 overlie the edges of the en most wrapper in the magazine onlyenough to prevent the pile of wrappers from being forced out of the delivery end thereof. f

By means of the above-descrlbed cam 310 and associated mechanism the magazine 276 is raised with respect to the banding device 272 in order that a Wrapper shall be delivered thereto. The endmost wrapper in the magazine is thus brought momentarily lnto Contact with the end of a vacuumchuck 338 (Fig. 24)

slidably mounted in the banding device 27 2 and resiliently urged toward lts lower position by means of a spring 340 bearm atV one end against ashoulder342 on the chuc which limits its downward movement and at the other end against the top of a recessed portion 344 in the banding device within which the shoulder 342 is free'to slide. As illustrate'd in Fig. 29, the chuck 338 comprises a tube with a central opening 346 leading to a recess 348 formed between the iiattened end of the tube and a plate 350 integralv there- 45 with. The plate 350 isqprovided with a plurality of perforations 352 connecting the.

` chamber 348 with the outer air. Extensions 353 of the end of the chuck are arranged to engage the inner pins 52 of the winding reels in the event that no laces have been fed there-` to in order to prevent the falling of the chuck into the path of the folding jaws 282 and 284.

As the magazine is moved to bring the endmost wrapper therein into contact with the plate 350 on the end of the chuckr 338, a pressure less than that of the atmospheric pressure is created within the chamber 348, by an exhausting means now to be described, in order that the endmost wrapper may be held on the plate when the magazine is retracted therefrom. This means comprises a cylinder. 354 (Fig. 1') containing a piston 356 fastened to a piston rod 358 which is pivotally connected to the end of a crank arm 360 fixed to the shaft 94. The cylinder 354 is mounted on `ingdevice.

338 by means'of a duct 366 attached to a T-ftting 368 (Fig. 24) which is fixed to the top of the chuck 338. A et-cock 370 is screwed into an opening in t e T-itting opposite that to which the tube 338 is attached and may be opened to render the suction chuck inoperative at the operators discretion.

As the chamber in the cylinder 354 above the piston 356 (Fig. l) is being evacuated to enable the suction chuck to hold the wrapper at the end thereof, the air in the lower chamber in the cylinder below the piston is being compressed in order to provide an air blast for assisting in the separation of the uppermost label in the magazine from the rest of the pile, the operation of and means for providing which will now be described. The air blast is created as the magazine is retracted from the chuck 338 and is directed edgewise fixed to the frame by means of a bolt 378 passing through a hole in the bracket 376, al-

lowing the bracket 376 to be adjusted toward and from the magazine. The nozzle 372 is connectedto the lower end of the cylinder 354 bymeans of a duct 380V (Fig. 1) Hence, by means of the apparatus above described, a blast of air is created edgewise of the uppermost labels in the magazine, to reduce the tendency of the labels to adhere on account of air pressure holding them to ether, simultaneouslywith Aan evacuation o the air within the suction lchuck as the magazine is moved into andout of juxtaposition with the band- If, during this operation of transferring a-wrapper from the magazine to the banding device, the magazine should tend to rise higher than is necessary'to bring the uppermost label in the magazine into contact prevent breakage of the parts.

It is apparent that the force which must be applied to the support 318 in order to hold the Wrappers at the upper part of the magazine will create a slight resistance at the l1ps 336 against the removal of the endmost wrapper. Further to facilitate the removal of wonly the endmost wrapper in the magazine at a time, means is provided for temporarily relleving this frictional resistance as the rethrough the chamfer260 are thus guided so that they are wound in convolute loops on I lowed to hang freely over the table 64, are

combed before lpassing through the guiding and tensioningAmeans by the flap 58 (Fig. 14) cooperating with the abutment 60 at one side o f the groove in the shield 62. As the Hap 58 and cooperating abutment 60, as illustrated in Fig. 14, are adjacent to the path of the guiding and tensioning means between the lace-receiving and the banding position of the associated bundling reel .and substantial coextensive therewith, the loose ends of the laces will be combed by this means before they are passed to the guiding and tensioning means throughout the travel of the guiding and tensioning means between the lacereceiving and banding position.

The mechanism having been described for winding laces into bundles and bringing them `to the position in which wrappers are folded into bands thereabout, the mechanism for. performing the last-mentioned operation will next be described.

Y This-mechanismcomprises a banding de vice 272 (Figs. i, e, 7 and 10) Slidabiy mounted on the end of ,an oscillating arm 27 4 and a wrapper magaiine 276 mounted for reciprocation on the frame vandarranged to be-brought intermittently into juxtaposition `with the banding device which removeswrappers from the magazine one by one and applies them to bundles on the bundling reels as'they are successively brought int'o banding position.

The magazine .comprises a casing 278 '(Figs. 3, 16, 17, 18,120 and 21) substantially rectangularv in cross-section, one side 280 (Fig. 17) of which is hinged to facilitate the placing of afresh pile of wrappers within the magazine and which, by means of a -latch 282 (Fig. 10), may be locked securelyto hold the pile of wrappers within the magazine. A pair ofV guides 284 (Fig. 22) adjacent to'opposite edges of one side of the casing 278 constitute a dovetailed groove within which one side of a dovetailed slide 286 is aranged to be engaged.` As most clearassembling of the slide and the magazine.

To assemble; the slide and magazine, the

dovetailed shoulder y opposite the notched' portion of the Slide isinserted in the corthe slide and corresponding guide 284 havev been alined, the slide may be swung relatively to the magazlne into the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 17 and a slight relative longitudinal movement will lock the i side 286'to the magazine in the manner of the conventional dovetailed connection. The magazine, which is free to move longitudinally a limited amount with respect to the slide 286, is resiliently supported by a helical spring 290 (Fig. 20) encased in a closed tube 292 fixed to the magazine, the spring being in abutting relation with a pin 294 on the slide 286 arranged to slide withinthe tube and to abut a shoulder 296 (Fig. 22) atthe I upper end ofthe slide (.286. Upward movement of the magazine` to a point where its notches and those of the slide are alined is normally prevented by a latch 297 (Fig. 21) which engages a shoulder 299.0n the slide 286. As will be more fully explained here inafter, the movement of the magazine ywith 'respectto the slide is slight.

Wrappers are delivered to the bandin de-V vice during the rotation of the bun ling reels, and during this time thearm 274 is in its extreme rearward position, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 7 and 10, holding the bandingdevice 272 in alinement with the ma azine 276. In order to bring the banding device and the delivery end of the magazine into juxtaposition, the latter is arranged to be moved toward the former. .The magazine disclosed herein derives its motion from the slide 286 which is arranged to' be reciprocated with respect to a bearing block 298 (Fig. 18) adjustablysecu-red to the frame 82 of the machine by-means of a bolt 300 threaded linto the bearing block 298 and extending through an elongated slot 302 in a bracket 304 which is bolted to the frame 82. The slide 286 and hence the magazine 276 are reciprocated `Jbodily by means of a bellcrank 306 (Figs. 10 and 18) the bfurcated end of which engages a pin 308 in the lower end of the slide 286. The bell-crank 306, which is pivoted on the rod '126 extending between the sides ofthe frame, is operated by a cam 310 engaging a roll 312 on the lower end of the bellcrank, the cam being fixed to the shaft 130.

The magazine is urged toward its lower posi- ,tion by a spring 314 which connects the lower end of the bell-crank 306 with the end of the frame and holds the cam roll 312 against the cam 310. Wrappers 316 are lheld at the delivery end of the magazine by means of a support 318 (Fig. 20) arrangedto slide inside the magazine to h old the wrappers in the uppermost part thereof. The support is 'then suspended by means of'a weighted cord 320 (Figs. 18 and 21) one end of'which is attached to a pin 322 (Fig. 21) extending from the wrapper support 318 through a slot 3 in Fig. 14, to bring the clips of the guiding and tensioning means within the path of rota tion of-the associatedreel. A shoulder l234 (Fig. 14) of the notch acts as a stop for the rod 228, thereby preventing further forward movement of the spider so long as the rod extends into the notch, that is, while a bundling reelis in banding position.

While the rod 228 associated with the bundling reel which is in banding position prevents further forward rotation of the spider as above described, the yrod 228 associated with the bundling reel in lace receiving position, in cooperation with means to be described hereinafter, prevents the spider from rotating in a reverse direction. Thus, the means referred to temporarily locks the spider against rotation in either direction whena bundling reel is brought into banding position. The last-mentionedlocking means comprises a latch 236 (Figs. 4 and 14) extending through the plate 230 and into the path of the ends of the rods 228. As the rods ass the latch it is moved inwardly within Vlts holder 238 again-st the compression of the spring 240 until a bundling reel arrives at its banding position, at which time the rod 228 adjacent to the latch passes far enough beyond it to allow the latch to spring out of its holder into the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 4, thereby locking the spider -1.58 against a reverse rotation.

The means for moving the clips of the guidin and tensioning means within the path o rotation of the bundling reels, as indicatedbythe series of views in Fig. 15, comprises a fin 242 (Figs. 10, 11 and 14) upon a collar 244 (Fig. 11) which is fixed t0 the shaft 2,28, which fin engages within a ver'- tically disposed groove in a slide 246 (Figs.

- 10 and 11) arranged to be movedparallel to in a cam 258 which is fixed to the crank shaft' the rod 228 as the associated bundling .reel approachesits Abanding position. The slide 246 isoperated by a bell-crank, one arm 248 'of which is bifurcated to receive a lug 250 on the slide. The other arm 252 of the bellcrank lever is bifurcated to receive the reduced end of'a lever 254 (Figs. 1'and 11) fulcrumed to a side of the frame at 256 (Fig. 1). The flower end of the lever 254 carries aycam roll arranged to engage withinv a. track 174. The cam 258 is so constructed that during thelast half-revolution of the bundling reel as it approaches its banding position, the mechanism above described is operated to move the clip of the guiding and tensioning means within the pathof rotation of the reel, thereby to support the outer ends ofthe bundle woundthereon between its extremes, as illustrated in Fig. 12. It is understood that the pins will have -been adjusted longitudinall along the reel arms 7 2, so that upon completion .of-the winding of a bundle the outer endsof `-the laces therein will terminate short of the end of the bundle, as indii the bundling operation, which support is maintained until the bundles are removed from the reels. In order that the outer ends of the .bundled laces may be held closely against the body of the bundle, the jaw 222 of the guiding and tensioning means is chamfered, as indicated at 260 (Fig. 1), through which chamfer the laces are pulled as they are wound on the reels. In the illustrated machine the thickness of the jaw 222 across the chamfer is very slight, so that the outer ends ofthe laces in the bundle in banding position may be held substantially against the body of the bundle. the guiding and tensioning means being thus held against the body of the bundle when its winding is completed, the guiding and tensioning means is reslliently urged against the bundle in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fifr. 1 by means of a coiled spring 262 (Fig. 11)` surrounding the rod 228 connecting the collar 244 with the guiding and tensioning means. Rotation of the uiding and tensioning means 56 on thero 228 is In order to insurelimitedby means of -a lug 264 enga ing within-a-recess (notshown) ih the gui ing and tensioning means. Itis essential forthe successful operation of the machine that the rotation of the bundling reels l.with 'respect to their owny axes shall be stopped quite as definitely as their rotation about the centers of the shafts 204 and 154 asv axes is stopp Aby means of the locking mechanism descr forward direction is thus prevented by the` abutment 266 engaging the extension 268 of the associated reel arm 72, and their rotation in the reverse direction isprevented by a Horton clutch 270 (Figs. 1 and 11) associated with lthe pinion 202 which is pinned to the shaft 204. As illustrated in Fig. 13, the bundling reels are thus stopped and held so that the pins 52 and 70 are substantially parallel to thev rods 228. l

The jaw 222 of the guiding and tensioning means associated with the bundling reel in lace receiving positionisheld away from the cooperating jaw 220 by means of the guard 68 while laces are being fed to the machine, as illustrated in Figs. 1' and 14. As soon as the guard is oscillated out of juxtaposition with the pins of that reel in lace receiving position, itv also releases the jaw 222'Which subsequently lresiliently holds the' 

